“In chapters 12-14 of the book of Revelation, the great actors of the tribulation time are introduced in another parenthetical section ending at 14:20. . . About these main characters swirls the tremendously moving scene of the great tribulation” (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 187).
John sees a “great wonder” in the heavens. “A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered” (Rev. 12:1b-2).
This great sign was visible to John in the heavens, or “sky.” I am reminded of Genesis 1:14, “Then God said, ‘let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years” (NASB1995). Back in 2017, there was a star formation surrounding the constellation Virgo that greatly resembled the exact details of the Revelation 12 sign. Could John have seen constellations in the heavens? We don’t know and must be careful not to assume.
However, based on Genesis 1:14, we know that one of the functions God ordained for the lights in the heavens is for signs. I must admit, I was disappointed when the 2017 star formation never panned out. It’s fascinating to think about such a sign and if it will be visible on earth. Will it be a formation in the stars that only an astronomer can see? Or will it be visible to all who dwell on the earth?
Based on the context of chapter 12, the sign seems to be associated with the middle of the Tribulation. The woman represents the nation of Israel. The twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel, and the male Child is Jesus.
As John observes the woman about to give birth, another wonder appears in verses 3-4: that of a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns with seven crowns upon his heads. This dragon must have been terrifying to behold, especially since he was poised to devour the child. Verse 9 tells us exactly who this red dragon is. He is none other than the serpent of old, “who is called the devil and Satan.” The “seven heads and ten horns” seem descriptive of the beast mentioned in Rev. 13:1 and Daniel 7:7-8, 24, and represent the kingdoms of this world. Revelation 12:4 says that the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth. I believe these stars represent fallen angels.
The Child is described in verse 5. “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” The male child is Jesus who was prophesied to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9, Rev. 19:15). Some people say that the Church is the male Child because of the reference of being “caught up to God and to His throne.” The word for “caught up” is the Greek word “harpazo,” meaning “raptured.” However, “there is no good reason for not identifying the man-child as Christ and interpreting the drama of verse 5 as the panorama of His birth, life, and ascension. The fact that He is caught up not only to God but to “His throne” is another indication that Christ is intended” (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ p. 191). “Verses 1-5 lay out a historical summary from the birth to the ascension of the Messiah” (Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 281).
When the Child was caught up, the woman fled to the wilderness to a special place prepared by God where she would be nourished for 1260 days (Rev. 12:6). Again, the 1260 days in view is the last half of the Tribulation.
Verses 7-9 describe the war in heaven waged by Michael and his angels against Satan and his demons. Satan is not be able to overpower them and is thrown down to earth along with his demonic horde. Fruchtenbaum says this is the reason Israel flees (The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 281). He adds, “At the time, there will be an all-out satanically organized campaign to wipe out the Jews once and for all.”
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”
Revelation 12:10 (NASB1995)
Here we see “an equivalent statement to that which accompanied the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:5), but which recognizes the removal of Satan from God’s heaven as a key signal of the beginning of the end” (Precept Austin on Revelation 12:10).
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11 NASB1995). This is referring to the martyred Tribulation Saints and reminds me of Hebrews 11:38, “of whom the world was not worthy.”
Revelation 12:12 “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time” (NASB1995). Satan’s wrath will be intensified because he knows his time is short (1260 days).
Jesus described this future time in Matthew 24, which also gives clues to the order of these events. According to Fruchtenbaum, Matthew 24:15-28 refers to the last half of the Tribulation, beginning with the Abomination of Desolation when the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel and defiles the Temple (The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 281). The next few verses describe Israel’s escape to the wilderness. A possible succession of events is as follows: (1) the Antichrist’s death and resurrection, (2) the two witnesses’ death, resurrection, and ascension, (3) the Abomination of Desolation, (4) the Antichrist declares war on Israel, (5) the Jewish people flee Jerusalem.
I love that Israel’s deliverance is aided by eagle’s wings. Precept Austin says, “This phrase speaks of supernatural assistance given by God in a time of human incapability. It describes God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt by the parting of the Red Sea: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Ex. 19:4). It also connotes supernatural protection and provision, patterned after the way in which an eagle, when training a youngster to fly, pushes it out of the nest but also flies with it and catches it to bear it upwards again when needed” (Precept Austin commentary on Revelation 12:14).
The flood that comes out of the dragon’s mouth could be literal but appears to be symbolic of destruction. Several times in the Bible, the destruction of the enemy is compared to a “flood,” for example, Jeremiah 46:7 says, “Egypt rises up like a flood, and [its] waters move like the rivers; and he says, ‘I will go up [and] cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants” (NKJV). But God! He causes the earth to open up and swallow the “flood” (v. 16).
“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
Revelation 12:17 (NASB1995)
Week 2: Homework Reflections
Days One-Two
- Read Revelation 12.
- In your journal, list everything you learn about the woman, the dragon, and the Child.
- What are your thoughts?
Days Three-Four
- 1. Read Matthew 24:9-28.
- Verses 9-14 describe the first half of the Tribulation. Record what you learn.
- Read Matthew’s 24:15-28 and list what you learn about the second half of the Tribulation.
- How do verses 15-28 compare to Revelation 12?
Day Five
- Read Zechariah 3:1. What is Satan’s attitude towards Israel?
- Read Zechariah 13:8-9. To what extent will Satan destroy the Jews?
- Read Exodus 19:4, Deut. 32:10-13 and Isaiah 40:31 and record what you learn about eagles’ wings.
- Read Isaiah 26:20-21 and Jeremiah 30:7. Describe God’s protection over His children.
- The remnant of Israel will be saved! How does this reality reveal God’s grace to Israel during the coming hour of Jacob’s trouble?
Simply Persuaded 